It is a great honor to be here today and to have the opportunity to among you.

First of all, I would like briefly present the role of the Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology of the Hellenic Parliament, as well as the current landscape of research and innovation in Greece.

The Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology is a parliamentary body tasked with overseeing and supporting science, research, and innovation policy in Greece.

Our mission is to strengthen the connection between the legislative framework and the country’s research and technology ecosystem.

We follow scientific developments closely, work with national research institutions and innovation stakeholders, and contribute to shaping policies that promote research excellence, technological advancement, and the transition of knowledge to the real economy.

Greece, although a relatively small country, is home to a dynamic and rapidly growing research and innovation ecosystem.

We have a number of distinguished research centers and universities that actively participate in cutting-edge scientific work across a wide range of fields, such as nanotechnology, biomedical sciences, climate research, materials science, artificial intelligence, and many more.

Institutes such as FORTH, NCSR Demokritos, CERTH, and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, along with top academic institutions like the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the National Technical University of Athens, are leading research efforts with international visibility and impact.

In recent years, Greece has made significant progress in research output, participation in EU programs, and international collaborations.

According to European indicators, Greece is considered a «Moderate Innovator», yet with one of the highest improvement rates in the EU.

Our researchers are highly competitive in Horizon Europe and other international research frameworks, and many Greek-led initiatives are shaping the European research agenda.

One of the current goals for the Greek research community is closer integration with major European research infrastructures, such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF).

Greece has a strong interest in becoming actively connected to the ESRF, and there are already several national institutions and research bodies that have expressed the need for access to its cutting-edge facilities.

That is exactly why my visit was organized, to explore the feasibility and benefits of Greece joining the ESRF network more formally.

Such a step would open new doors for Greek scientists, offering them access to state-of-the-art capabilities in materials characterization, structural biology, and a range of applications with great societal and industrial relevance.

As Chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology, I recognize the strategic value of supporting this connection, not only for the benefit of the scientific community but also as a way to boost innovation, strengthen Greece’s role in the European Research Area, and better link scientific excellence with national development.

Thank you very much for your attention.